Bachelor of Paramedicine student Louise Richardson is just one of the trainee medics who have been lucky enough to get some real world career experience at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) this April.
The third year student has been working as part of a contingent of 25 third year Bachelor of Paramedicine and 11second year Bachelor of Medicine students. All have been volunteering their time and enthusiasm for the big event.
Each have been getting experience working in their chosen profession at this once in a lifetime event, while being supervised by fully qualified professionals.
“I have been placed to do shifts at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre during the netball and basketball events and it has been so exciting,” says Louise. “I have been helping out with first aid for the spectators at the events and it’s been a good chance to get a taste for such a large-scale event.”
Students from the two disciplines have been placed across five locations during the Games including the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Carrara Stadium, Oxenford Studios, the Gold Coast Hockey Centre and Optus Aquatic Centre.
Paramedicine students have been offering first aid services at the events while Medicine students have been assigned to assist the Commonwealth Games Medical Commission as well as assisting in the Polyclinic in non-clinical roles.
Dean Academic Professor Tony Perkins from Griffith’s Health Group says he has been impressed with how students have taken up the opportunity. “This work experience is a completely voluntary exercise for these students and a fabulous chance for them to not only gain valuable work experience, but also to soak up the environment at what is a really exciting and memorable sporting event.”
